True Companions are just like a real family — they may not necessarily like each other, or actually have liked each other at first, but they know they can depend upon each other in a crisis. It is a relationship considered to be deeper than mere friendship but more innocent than romance.
This sort of group dynamic appeals to younger audiences who are unfamiliar with romance, and appeals to older audiences who live in a world of complex relationships and convenience masqueraded as False Friendship, who are feeling nostalgic about the times when friendship meant a lifelong bond.
A writer may use this to avoid writing romantic relationships, though this usually doesn't stop fans from making up their own.
This trope was originally known as nakama, a Japanese word that means friends or companions.note
Related to and often overlaps with Best Friends.
Sometimes, out of a sense of loyalty, one of the true companions might decide to sacrifice himself on a very dangerous mission to spare his comrades. But usually that same loyalty will cause the others to insist they must also come along, so then Solo Mission Becomes Group Mission.
True Companions has been suggested to play 11 roles. Click below to see other actors suggested for each role, and vote for who you think would play the role best.
